Building a coop and run, been there...done that! Help for the asking

[fireguy56]

So, this is new to me in creating a thread. Crap, I don't even know what a thread is! But haven't been on BYC for years since I built our first 2 coops 5+ years ago. However I do appreciate the 40,000 plus view and many of the sweet comments made about my original posts of my coop design photos I submitted back then.
I used this forum and my construction skills to build two coops for my wife and grand kids because they wanted to have a flock and place to keep them safe. I learned so much by searching this site and incorporated so many great ideas I saw here to build our coops.
I have been known to take things a little overboard at times,so I built two pretty cool coops "in my eyes".
Little did I know the response I would get from the pictures I posted of my ideas and our build progress. Overwhelming to say the least. I am still getting ovations to date.
So, that being said I am posting this to encourage anyone thinking of getting involved in the rewarding " hobby" of enjoying a backyard flock to do so. What a great way to start by joining BYC family. You have taken the first step, sa I did.
Read, look at coop designs, get on forum and ask questions. Then just build the best coop you can for your skill level, budget, site, flock considered, etc.
Advice: consider your climate, site, how well you can protect you new flock from "bad guys",free time you have to devote to caring for you flock, and on and on. But most important, be ready to take care of them no matter what. It is a commitment.
Hope anyone seeing this will consider all of what I have said. I'm no expert by no means. But ,I am committed to what I started out to do. Please take time to look at all coop designs before coming up with your own. Don't work beyond you skill level,butdoattemptto build the coop you can. You can always make it better. Feel free to look at my two designs, use ideas from them or find better ones. I am fine with questions from members, via site or even personal calls. I am old school. I like talking to people . South Louisiana Fireman still on job and have no problem with calls as long as relevant to topic at hand. E-mail me for my phone number if care to talk one on one. Be glad to help get you heading in right direction. Any good American would do the same for our own. God Bless Americaa.
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Good luck on your becoming new parents and caregivers.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am sure many people on here will be flooding you with requests for guidance.

Your coops are an inspiration!

Thank you for being willing to lend folks a hand if they need it.

 

[jeannem]

I have an 8x8 coop that I bought, it is half monitor style. Chickens still in brooder and growing fast. I want to use deep litter method, and want poop board to give me space underneath. Is there a good way to build poop board so it wouldn't need scraped everyday, like with deep litter.

 

[Melnurse]

Feel free to look at my two designs, use ideas from them or find better ones. I am fine with questions from members, via site or even personal calls. I am old school. I like talking to people . South Louisiana Fireman still on job and have no problem with calls as long as relevant to topic at hand. E-mail me for my phone number if care to talk one on one. Be glad to help get you heading in right direction. Any good American would do the same for our own. God Bless Americaa.
[email protected]
Good luck on your becoming new parents and caregivers.

Hi Erik,
So appreciate your post! We have had chickens (first time every for both of us) for about 2 years now and we fell for the cheap, "made in Japan" coop from the place that sold us the chicks, and two years later realize that it won't last another Winter.

So... my husband, who is very handy with building things, has a "honey do" item to check off the list - a new, sturdy, safe coop that I can stand up in to clean/rake out. We're thinking 8.5 feet x 5 feet or so, but that could change.

We would like to add to our flock eventually (we have four girls, can't have roosters here, and want to add up to 4 more), and we've heard that when planning a coop, we need to consider a place for the new girls when we add them (now and in the future) that will integrate them into the flock safely and so that they realize where "safe" and "home" is (something that a separate temporary tractor may not provide).

Have you any ideas for incorporating a separate, maybe 2' x 3' area for two little new chicks/pullets prior to bringing them into the fold?

We're open to anything and we appreciate you!!
Mel and James